A few years ago, what could be considered an oddity released. PowerWash Simulator proved itself a success, offering up a relaxing time across its many missions. I loved it so much I tried it on Game Pass, completed it on the Switch, and have slowly been working my way through it on the Quest 2. And now FuturLab have released a second game. So, what does PowerWash Simulator 2 deliver from its predecessor?

The first job starts things small, simply cleaning the moving van I arrived at my new premises in. Cleaning bodywork of the van and inside the hold, things feel much the same as the first. Various nozzles that have different power outputs and ranges, with extensions that can be used to increase that range. A soap nozzle exists to help clean faster should I want to use it. I’m never using it.

Unlike the first game, the base of operations is its own place away from jobs. This two-level building holds a few things, such as the map of Caldera County which is used to select jobs. Though that can be done from the menu, too. Also here is the shelf which will be filled with a figure based on a job that gets completed. The free play versions of jobs can be accessed from here, or the menu. And of course, there’s the cats in the lounge area. That can be petted.

There’s a bit of personalisation that can be performed on the downstairs room of this base of operations. As jobs get completed, new items appear in the shop. Any new items bought need cleaning first, which is done in the garage. Once done, they can be moved to the next room and freely placed. Though things cannot be placed on top of each other, so my table will have to sit beside the rug rather than on it.

New power washers and the accessories for them can be bought, as well. As if feeling it a bit unfair that customisation and equipment would share the same currency, there are now two types of it that get earned. The money goes toward the equipment, while PowerWash Points go toward the customisation options. Which include outfit, van, and power washer cosmetics.

Back on the job, there’s plenty of interesting places to be cleaning among smaller stuff such as a mobility scooter. A shooting gallery at a funfair, a gas station on a lonely road, and even a billboard up high on an interstate. This particular job gives something to be playing around with. The abseil. Only available on certain jobs, it can be set up to allow cleaning of really high areas. The controls for it aren’t the best, as move too quick up or down and I was automatically getting off it, but it is a fun thing to use once used to that.

The other pieces of equipment have seen a bit of an expansion, with multiple ladders and stepladders at my disposal when required. And the scaffolding stairs have been hugely improved, now coming with ladders on their sides so I’m not walking in circles up a load of levels to reach the top of them. And, available in the shop, is a surface cleaner, which can make quick work of any flat surfaces.

A few quality of life additions make things easier to handle. The controls to swap around things on the power washer are always visible on the lower right, as is an indicator of how I’m standing. When getting close to the end, even when the last three tasks haven’t popped up, a marker will appear to show what still needs to be fully cleaned. A fantastic addition that stops me having to comb everywhere for some tiny bits I’ve missed. Though it doesn’t seem to like showing on the smallest of jobs, such as that mobility scooter.

During jobs, the people who have hired me send messages, offering up bits of details about their lives, or the place I’m working. Sometimes conversations in group chats will also appear. It’s always fun to just stop work to read what they have to say, as each tells a story of its own, with small bits leading to the overing arc of a main plot that gets discovered.

Yes, just like the first game, there’s a deeper mystery to be found. Caldera County’s new mayor, the former mayor of the town of Muckingham, has arranged for a town of the year competition to be held. Various towns are wanting to win, but are they above dirty tactics to do so? And what does Jeff Jefferson XIII stand to gain from this? I’m very much looking to find out. And not only because there’ll probably be some great locations coming up to be cleaning.

PowerWash Simulator 2 is a worthy follow up to the first game. There’s more detail in the locations visited, with many more varied locations to clean. Some fun characters and chatter while on a job, plus the relaxed nature of the game in general, are also positives for it. In fact, aside from the occasional issue of using ladders (and the abseil), it’s all positive. Which means it is an easy recommendation for PowerWash Simulator 2.

Images Taken From:
PowerWash Simulator 2 | PC